Meet SJ Bailey, the Atlanta-based designer behind SJ Bailey Co. and SJ Bailey Curated! Since age 16, she’s crafted timeless, elegant jewelry that helps customers express their style. After graduating from the University of Georgia and a brief stint at a software company, SJ returned to her creative roots to launch her brand. From formal weddings to casual days spent running errands, her pieces elevate every occasion.
As her business grew to include styling services, her passion for interiors led to the launch of SJ Bailey Curated. Get to know the creative force behind these two inspiring brands!
Have you always been drawn to the creative arts?
One-hundred percent. I’ve always had a passion for creating. I remember begging my parents to let me attend art camp, where I could explore all kinds of crafts. My grandmom taught me how to sew, and I fell in love with the idea of making something I could wear out and about. Whether it was jewelry-making, painting, sketching, or sewing, I was always trying my hand at something new. That passion for creativity never left me, and it’s what inspired me to eventually start SJ Bailey Co.
Where did the idea for SJ Bailey Co. begin?
The idea for SJ Bailey Co. really began back in high school when I started making jewelry for family and friends. It was something I loved, but I decided to put my designs on hold while I attended the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). Around my senior year, I felt a strong pull to start creating again, but I was honestly too busy to give it the time it needed.
After graduation, I worked in brand marketing and event planning for the software industry. While I loved the teams I worked with, that feeling of wanting to make jewelry again hadn’t gone away. That’s when I decided to pick it back up and launch SJ Bailey Co.
At first, I thought, “If no one buys them, at least I’d want to wear them!” But what started as a passion project has grown into something bigger. Now, we’re so honored to play a part in weddings, baby showers, and the everyday moments that make life special.
Why bridesmaid earrings?
A few weeks after I officially launched SJ Bailey Co., I had a bride reach out about custom earrings for her wedding at the Montage Palmetto Bluff. I remember thinking, “You want to order that many earrings? Absolutely, yes!” After the wedding, I received the most beautiful professional photos of the bridesmaids in their gowns and fur boleros, with the earrings and the stunning venue as the perfect backdrop. That’s when it really hit me — 12 more women now knew about SJ Bailey Co., and I had stunning photos of people wearing my designs. It was such an exciting moment.
A few months later, COVID hit, and as a COVID bride myself, I wanted to do something kind for brides whose weddings weren’t going as planned. I decided to offer bridesmaids’ earrings at wholesale cost, and that’s when the bridesmaids’ bulk orders really took off.
Years later, we still have bridesmaids from those weddings coming back and telling us they not only still wear their SJ Bailey Co. earrings but they want to order them for their own weddings. It’s so humbling to see how these relationships have evolved.
Many of these brides are now coming back for custom designs for baby showers, baptisms, and other important milestones. It’s an honor and privilege to be part of these monumental life events and create something meaningful that lasts.
Where do you find design inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere, but I especially love playing with our materials and incorporating floral elements into my designs. There’s something so satisfying about arranging pearls, natural gemstones, and mother-of-pearl until it aligns with the vision I have in mind. I also draw a lot of inspiration from architecture — particularly European styles — and anything that feels whimsical, romantic, and feminine.
Tell us about SJ Bailey Curated!
I’ve always been passionate about interior decorating, estate sales, and supporting local businesses in Atlanta. When my husband and I bought our first house, I started sharing our renovation and decorating journey on the SJ Bailey Co. Instagram. But as a brand marketer, it felt a bit off to post about kitchen hardware on a jewelry-focused account. So, I decided to split my business into two separate accounts: one for all things SJ Bailey Co. jewelry and styling and another for SJ Bailey Curated for my love of antiquing, estate sales, local businesses, and interior finds.
Both accounts are a true reflection of my personal taste, and I’ve loved building them out. SJ Bailey Co. is where we focus on the brand, while SJ Bailey Curated is more personal — sharing the places and things that inspire me.
How would you describe your interior style, and what tips do you have for antiquing?
I wouldn’t say I have a specific style; I just buy what I love and find a place for it in our home. I’m very decisive about what I like versus what I don’t, and I think everything in our space works together because it’s true to my personal tastes.
I’m a huge fan of estate sales, and Facebook Marketplace has been a game-changer for decorating our house. In fact, I furnished our entire dining room in our old house through Marketplace, and I’ll definitely be using it again when we move into our new home!
For a weekend in Atlanta, where are your top recommendations to eat, drink, and explore?
Eat: Kimball House (my favorite restaurant in ATL), The Optimist, Little Sparrow, or 246 in Decatur.
Drink: Bar Blanc
Shop: Label’s, La Librarie, Lucy’s Market, Fête, Means and Carney, The Acquired Home, and Huff Harrington.
Play: My play is antiquing, and Scott Antique Market is always fun if they’re in town! Le Chateau, Westside Market, Foxglove, and Chamblee Antique Row are also fun to bop through.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Coffee shop order? An Americano with half and half.
Most recent vintage find? I just went antiquing at Tapley’s in Savannah and found a marble lamp I could not be more obsessed with.
What are you watching or reading these days? My Kindle is always with me, and I’ve been reading Onyx Storm!
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